Sermon
Year C
Last Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 29
November 24, 2019
First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Canticle 16
Second Reading: Colossians 1:11-20
Gospel: Luke 23:33-34
The Feast of Christ the King
The Final Walk
Jesus in his last three years, had been on a walk from Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum to Jerusalem, north to Tyre to Sidon and south to Jerusalem, thousands of miles covered on foot.
Sometimes Jesus was in a boat on the sea of Galilee and on donkey in Jerusalem.
But most of the time he walked, this was the only way he could get his message out to the people, otherwise they would not have known him.
The word spread around the region, he was healing and teaching and He had disciples that followed him everywhere. He was as genuine as the people whom he met. A kind humbly man with great strength and courage, he would go off by himself and pray for long periods of time. But wait, he was different…he was able to change water into wine at a wedding in Cana? I can’t do that!
Throughout the Gospel’s, His signs or miracles were many. Healing the royal official’s son in Capernaum and healing the paralytic at Bethesda. We can’t forget, He helped a blind man from birth, see for the first time and Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus walked on water and then fed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish all the while teaching about love, compassion, forgiveness. He said to his followers, How the one who sent him, is in him, and in you. And throughout the Gospel of Luke, how to depend on God through prayer and how to pray!
Thousands of people witness his miracles and followed him from place to place to see him, to touch him, to ask questions and some were curious and angry and perhaps jealous.
Who is this King? The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of trying to make himself a king. A name that was given to him and a title that hung over him on the cross. He did not claim to be a King, besides, when do we treat Kings or Queens like this?
(John 18:36), Jesus says “My kingdom is not from this world”.
What he is saying is his kingdom is eternal. He is not! The temporal king…but he is an eternal king.
And now, Jesus this man believed to be the Son of God and the second Person of the Holy Trinity, has been turned over to Pilate, by some of those people who followed him. Instead of the leaders and the people who followed him, giving him praise and glory. They are mocking him, taunting him, hitting him and forcing Pilate to crucify him.
His Final Walk:
“When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals one on the right and one on his left.”
But not before he was asked by the criminal who was also suffering in pain, Jesus “remember me when you come into your kingdom”
Jesus doesn’t hesitate, He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Conclusion:
St. Paul wrote to the Colossians (1:12-13)
Giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the lights.
He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in who we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Through suffering, redemptive, love and forgiveness, we are led from darkness into the power of light. This is why Jesus’ was sent into this world, because of his death and resurrection, we will find salvation and eternal life. “And now”, we are waiting for: The Prince of Peace to be born.
Next week starts the Advent season. And for four weeks we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. It is a time of reflection and a time set aside to renew our connection to Christ.
Story:
Dad and Mother had four children. My sister Glenda was 10 years old when my sister Shirley was born. Three years later, I was born and three years later, mom was expecting again. They didn’t have anyway in those days of knowing the sex of the child.
Daddy was waiting in anticipation, hoping that this baby would be a boy.
Traditionally, when mom was in labor, dad would stand outside the room. He always worn a big cowboy hat and when the baby was born, he could hear the cry of the new born baby. His tradition was to throw the cowboy hat on mom’s bed, if it was a girl, she kept it, if it was a boy, she tossed it back at him. Three times mom kept his hat, “but” this time she was able to toss it back at him.
Joy filled the room; their little prince was born.
Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath